The role of specific CD4+ T helper cell response in the course of hepatitis C virus infection.

Changes in the specific CD4+ T-cell immunity against HCV in response to the treatment with alpha-interferon and ribavirin have been studied in 56 patients with chronic HCV infection. It was shown that after the treatment enhancement of the immune response to HCV infection was mainly due to the elevation of the numbers of NS3 and NS4 antigen-specific CD4+ T cells, which indicates that these cells play an important role in the development of the specific defense directed towards elimination of the virus from the human organism.

Obstruction of common bile duct caused by liver fluke--Fasciola hepatica.

Three cases of obstruction of the common bile duct by Fasciola hepatica with two of the patients presenting jaundice are reported. The authors have reviewed several publications concerning common bile duct obstruction by liver fluke, a quite rare complication of fascioliasis. Only nineteen cases of common bile duct obstruction caused by Fasciola hepatica have been reported in a review of medical publications during last ten years.